Engine Starting rough

[NateS]

Hello again all,

I'm back from my year in Iraq. During the year my wife kept my 2004 330i running by driving it every couple of weeks.

I've been driving it daily now for a few weeks and I notice every morning, the engine seems to start rough.

It turns right over, but after a couple of turns at normal idle, the engine almost shuts down, like it needs fuel, then it comes back as if the fuel is flowing fine. It does not do it for the rest of the day. Only when it rests overnight and it is still for say, 10 hours or so....

Any ideas what this may be?

Bad Gas?

Just wanted to get some opinions on this....

Thanks,

 

[Kirby]

Welcome back, and we appreciate your work over there!

There was a recall on the some 325/330s for bad coils. Check on that, it's a possibility, the bad coils caused starting problems, and rough running intermittently. At least that's what it did on mine.

 

[bmwrocks]

True that Kirby. Check fot the coil recall, check with your dealer to see if your car is affected.

 

[ThatOneGuy]

If you don't get any fault codes, check this thread: http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=114721

 

[jkender]

My 2005 325xi just came out of the service center today - had similar problems but ultimately, the car wouldn't start, even though it sounded like it was going to engage, it never turned over. The problem -- HIGH OCTANE premium gasoline. The service center told me the high octane gas contains too much detergents and other mis-balanced mix of fuel and even though the dealer told me to use high octane, they are now telling me to use regular and mix in medium grade now. They had to replace my fuel pump and sensor, filter, etc.. Perhaps this is your problem? I have the receipt at my office and can get you the details of the work performed if you'd like.

 

[NateS]

Thanks

All,

Thank you all for your input....I'll check into it.

jkender, if you wouldn't mind sending me the details of your incident when you get a chance.

Appreciate it.

Nate

 

[clueless]

My car's engine turns off as i'm driving. I have already had the thersmostat and camshaft sensor changed- those were the parts the computer code was sending out as "the problem". However, my car is still turning off. This happens when I am driving at low speeds, like getting ready to make a turn or after making a stop. The check engine light comes out and it goes off by itself, again. Please help!!! If you have had the same problem. Please let me know what I can do. My Car It's a 325i 2001 and it's giving me a Code P0344 Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit Intermittent but I had already changed it
Help Please !!!

 

[jkender]

All,

jkender, if you wouldn't mind sending me the details of your incident when you get a chance.

Appreciate it.

Nate

The tech's note are as follows:

"Engine will crank but not start. Found fuel pump fuse blown. Fuel pump has seized due to fuel. Removed ear seat and both fuel senders. Pumped fuel tank dry and replaced fuel pump. Replaced fuel filter and fuel pump fuse as well. Put 5 gallons of new gas in tank. Tried to start, would not start. No power at pump. Found relay was bad. Replaced fuel pump relay and vehicle started. Cleared faults and reassembled. Recommend using top tier fuels and not refueling at the last place it was fueled at."

The service tech told me I can now alternate between 87 and 89 octane at the tier one fuel locations. I should no longer put in the 93 octane. The car manual, as well as the sticker on the inside of the gas cap, states to use at minimum 91 octane. I question putting in 87 and 89 as am concerned this can cause other damage?

 

[Kirby]

IMHO the tech is full of crap that the 93 octane rating caused the problem. Maybe you did get a bad tank of contaminated fuel, but the octane rating didn't damage the pump. Maybe the fuel pump just plain crapped out, or you let the tank run low too many times and the pump overheated. There are tens/hundreds of thousands of people using 91 + octane for dozens of years, exactly what BMW specifies.

Using lower octane will not damage the engine, the knock sensors will detect any preignition and the computer will retard the timing. Most people can notice the difference in performance between 87 and 91+ octane under hard acceleration.

 

[BimmerXI]

I had the same problem in my car. I would turn a corner and the car would stall. I would be able to restart it until one time when it would not turn over at all. They said this problem does occur. I have a 2001 325XI. They had to replace a wire harness and some form of a computer panel. I will pull the invoice tomorrow to see what the exact term is. If this is your problem, be prepared for a hefty price tag. It is not so much the parts as it is the labor. They had the car for four days.

 

[Tom]

Welcome back and thank you for serving our country. I had the similar startup issue last year. Took my car down to the dealer for a CPU reflash and the problem went away.

 

[///M SPEED]

Welcome back!! Again, thank for your time and service performed. We love you!

I would take it to a different dealer and/or get another opinion from another tech. It seems this guy doesn't know what he is talking about in reference to the issue being caused by or relating to the octane level of the fuel being used. I myself would not put anything under 91 octane in my car unless it was absolute necessary.....

Good luck with the issue.....